Managing a smart home with individual apps and cloud platforms for each smart device can quickly become tedious and frustrating. Instead, you can bring everything under one roof using MQTT, a lightweight messaging protocol designed for centralized message-based communication and control.

DietPi is my easy pick whenever I need an operating system for my Raspberry Pi. It's full of features that other SBC operating systems lack, and doesn't require too many system resources to work. But what if there were a DietPi version for laptops and desktops? I never thought of DietPi making a version for x86 systems, but it exists, and I was eager to try it on my old laptop. I previously installed AntiX on the laptop and liked the experience, but I didn't expect the same from DietPi’s x86 version.

Google Keep has been my go-to notes app for years, and I'd wager a guess that it's been a popular choice for many others, too. It's simple, quick, built into the Google ecosystem, and comes pre-installed on my Android phones. What's not to like? Moreover, it seamlessly syncs across devices without needing much user intervention. But as someone getting increasingly deeper into the self-hosted ecosystem, the lack of data ownership was bearing on me, not to mention the simplistic feature set of Google Keep. Notes get lost in the clutter, the labels are too basic to manage complex projects, and there isn't much of a structure. Keep is convenient, but it was time for a replacement. So, I tried out Trillium, a self-hosted, open-source note app. This might just be the self-hosted notes app that will make me ditch Google Keep.

With new restrictions and fees on work visas in the US set to take effect at midnight tonight, it’s no surprise that many employers are advising workers abroad to return to the US. Leaked memos from Google, Amazon, and Microsoft have been circulating on social media that instruct instruct any H-1B visa holders currently traveling to immediately make travel arrangements to land in the US before 12AM ET on Sunday September 21st. The companies all acknowledge the limited warning provided and apologize, promising to provide more guidance as the situation evolves. The memos also advise any H-1B employees and their H-4 dependents currently in the US to remain and not travel abroad until further notice. Since the changes to the H-1B visa are structured as a travel restriction, employers are concerned that any workers that are part of the program will be denied reentry to the country without a $100,000 fee.We’ve included the full text of the leaked memos below. Microsoft declined to comment for this story, and Amazon and Google had not responded at the time of publication. Microsoft:IMPORTANT ADVISORY: New travel restriction for H-1B visa holders Hi all–We have now reviewed the actual text of today’s Presidential Proclamation on H-1B visas, which you can find here: Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers – The White House. Here’s what you need to know: First, the proclamation is structured as a travel restriction. Beginning at 12:01 am eastern time on September 21, 2025 (so, 9:01 pm Pacific time tomorrow), individuals will not be able to enter/return to the U.S. in H-1B status unless their petition has an additional $100,000 payment associated with it. What you need to do: If you are in H-1B status and are in the U.S., you should remain in the U.S. for the foreseeable future. We know this may interrupt your travel plans. But the critical thing is to stay in the U.S. in order to avoid being denied reentry. While the proclamation doesn’t reference H-4 dependents, we also recommend that H-4s remain in the U.S. If you are in H-1B or H-4 status and are currently outside the U.S., we strongly recommend that you do what you can to return to the U.S. tomorrow before the deadline. The Proclamation was released within the last 30 minutes, so we realize that there isn’t much time to make sudden travel arrangements. But again, we strongly encourage you to do your best to return. I will be updating this post later this evening with a form for people to fill out if they are currently outside the U.S. with an H-1B visa. We want to be able to follow up with each individual and provide support and guidance as they try to return within the next 28 hours. The proclamation does not impact any other visa statuses. There is other content about the pause in processing H-1B petitions for individuals who are outside the U.S. At this time, we do not interpret this to immediately impact extensions of H-1B status or changes of status to H-1B as long as you are currently in the U.S. We’ll share more about that later.Google:We are reaching out with an urgent update regarding international travel for individuals on H-1B visas.A Proclamation is scheduled to take effect this Sunday at 12:01 AM ET. It introduces significant changes to re-entry procedures for H-1B visa holders currently outside the United States. We continue to review the Proclamation, but the initial advice we have received is that re-entry will require a mandatory payment of $100,000 per petition, which may cause substantial delays or prevent re-entry to the U.S.What You Need to Know:If you are currently outside the U.S.:If you are currently outside the U.S. with a valid H-1B visa, make plans to return and enter the U.S. before the Proclamation takes effect on Sunday, September 21 at 12:01 am ET (i.e. by this Saturday night).If you are currently in the U.S.:We strongly advise against any international travel if you are in valid H-1B status or need to travel to activate your H-1B visa. You should remain in the U.S.Departing the U.S. may result in complications or denial of re-entry under the new policy.If you are unable to return prior to the deadline in H-1B status: please reach out to go/immigration-help.We understand this may create challenges, and we are here to support you. We are actively monitoring the situation and will keep you updated as we learn more.Amazon:Amazonians,We’ve reviewed the Presidential Proclamation on H-1B visas that was released today and are actively working to gain greater clarity. Here’s what you need to know right now: The proclamation creates a travel restriction starting September 21, 2025, at 12:01 a.m. EDT (9:01 p.m. PDT tomorrow). After this deadline, individuals cannot enter the U.S. on H-1B status without an additional $100,000 payment associated with their petition. Recommended actions for you to take:If you have H-1B status and are in the U.S.: Stay in the country for now, even if you have travel planned for the immediate future. We will continue to provide updates as more details are available.If you have H-4 dependent status: We also recommend you remain in the U.S., though the proclamation doesn’t specifically mention H-4 dependents.If you have H-1B or H-4 status and are outside the U.S.: Try to return before tomorrow’s deadline if possible. We realize this is short notice but returning soon is advisable and you should make every effort possible to clear U.S. customs before 12:00 a.m. EDT (9:00 p.m. PDT) on Sunday, September 21, 2025.At this time, if you have an H-1B or H-4 status and are unable to return before the deadline, we advise that you do not attempt to enter the U.S. until further guidance is provided.

It's always nice when Microsoft officially adds a feature previously exclusive to third-party apps. It's not common, and it usually takes Microsoft a few years to catch up; however, sometimes it surprises us. I can't remember how long it took for the Redmond giant to finally add tabs in File Explorer, long after third-party apps had added them.

Since I started self-hosting, Home Assistant was at the top of my list of services to try out. The main reason I delayed implementing it is due to my lack of always-on hardware that could host a VM with Home Assistant. Home Assistant OS is my preferred method to host the service, since it supports add-ons.

Every once in a blue moon, we come across a game on Steam that's brand new, highly rated, and available at a pretty decent introductory offer. It doesn't happen often, but when the holy trifecta aligns, it's absolutely worth checking out.

When I first started 3D printing smart home enclosures, I thought it would be as simple as designing a box, hitting print, and placing my electronics inside. But I quickly realized there’s a lot more to it. Everything from material choice and ventilation to tolerances and mounting options can make or break a project. Looking back, there are many things I wish I had known before I started 3D printing, and more specifically, before I began creating enclosures for smart home devices. Over time, I’ve learned a lot through trial and error, as well as from resources I found online, and I am here to share those lessons with you. If you’re planning to do the same, these insights will save you both time and material in the long run.

When you think of sci-fi first-person shooters, your mind may immediately go to titles such as Halo or Destiny. However, before they saw the light of day, there was System Shock 2. The game set a huge bar for FPS titles and even set the foundation for its spiritual sequel series that would become what we know as BioShock.

Custom smart home dashboards on an external screen reduce the need to access the actual system. You can create stunning dashboards that display all your metrics on a small screen, which sits on your desk, your bedside stand, or the kitchen countertop, and is easily accessible. Adding a touchscreen to the mix allows you to interact with the dashboard and control all the connected devices. The first impulsive thought that comes to mind is using an old phone or a tablet, or purchasing a low-spec one to serve as a dashboard display. However, it isn't always a wise choice.

The mid-2000s were incredible for local area network (LAN) gaming experiences. We had the absolute magic that was Halo 2, which essentially kicked everything off with excellent local multiplayer support. I recall gaming into the early hours of the next morning with a bunch of friends playing through Halo and even running events to see which team could smash through the campaign on legendary first. It was a different time from how gaming is handled today, with everything usually carried out online. Even if you get together, there's a good chance your actual game will still pass through your router to the outside world.

If you're anything like me, you've probably already burned through Hollow Knight: Silksong once, and maybe even twice. The game is phenomenal and there's no denying it, but once the credits rolled, I was staring at the screen, wondering what to do with my hands. I could've gone into another Metroidvania, since there's just so many amazing ones out there, but you can't blame me for wanting to dive back into the comfort food that is the original Hollow Knight.